Letters of application vs any other information

I've been applying for a few jobs recently and haven't heard anything - not unusual. Then I recently got an application pack which emphasised the importance of the letter of application. I have been taking great care to complete the "other information" section - Why are you applying for this job - which is a part of the main application pack.
How does this differ from the letter of application? Should I be doing a separate letter explaining why I am applying for the job or should this be in the "Other information" section?
Any advice is welcome.

Despite the user name I am a serving head and if I didn't receive a separate letter alongside the main application pack I would be very worried!!! and would almost certainly be sold on other applications.
You are given this opportunity to 'sell yourself' !! Use it ! Tell the Head of the school what is great about you, how you are different from everyone else, what are you goingto bring to the school.
You really should have been given advice to seize this opportunity. The main application is useful but it really doesn't tell me all about you as a person and prospective staff member.
So YES get a letter together telling the Head where you have been teaching, what you can bring to the school and who you are. Some Heads may think you don't really want the job if you don't make this personal to the job spec too.Take every opportunity to STAND OUT and I don't think you can do that in the main application alone!
Hope this helps - and if you need more advice just ask!

So pop over to JobSeekers to get some help in getting that job!
_____________________________________________________________TheoGriff. Member of the TES Careers Advice Service.
I do Application and Interview one-to-ones, and also contribute to the Job Application Workshops. We look at application letters, executive summaries and interviews, with practical exercises that people really appreciate.New <u>Job Seminars</u> on Sunday 26 June.www.tesweekendworkshop29.eventbrite.comProbably more in the early autumn ready for the next lot of job ads to come out. Keep an eye out for the dates!

I have recently been involved in the recruitment of a head and and NQT (I'm a head BTW)
The NQTs applications were MUCH better then the heads. The best NQT's had filled in the main county application form, then copied the person spec into word and wrote under each heading how they fulfilled the criteria (ie doing the shortlisting for the appointment panel) and included a seperate letter, no more than A4, firstly thanking the chair/head for considering their application, why you want this particular job, then a short selection about their philosophy, then something interesting about them (eg been travelling, voluntary work, unusual sport or hobby).
Good luck